Sermons on Empty Religion:

Finding Rest When You’re Fully Stressed

Contributed by Michael Cariño on Jan 4, 2017

Big Idea: You can gain a life of rest when you give God the rest of your life.

Finding Rest When You’re Fully Stressed Matthew 11:28-30 Do you sometimes feel that life happens too fast and that you are always in a hurry? Do you feel overwhelmed with the demands and pressures of life? Do you feel exhausted? Have you lost your sense of excitement about living every day? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

New Age Christianity

Contributed by Gordon Brownlee on Apr 9, 2025

When our faith seeks to trust natural ways to serve the kingdom we can lose sight of life by the Spirit and invite counterfeit spiritual support. A believers story

New Age Christianity Vanity, Vanity I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will test you to find out what is spiritually good.” I tried cheering myself with Holy laughter, and embraced the folly of being drunk in the spirit, my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I undertook great projects: I built ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:15-19, Jude 1:17-21

Denomination: *other

When You're Waiting For The Prodigal To Return To His Father's House

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 22, 2001

Encouragement for the parents of prodigals.

Introduction: Listen to the following statement and consider the type of young man who would say such beautiful words: “Union with Christ imparts an inner elevation, comfort in affliction, tranquil reliance and a heart which opens itself to everything noble and great, not for the sake of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-13

Denomination: Baptist

A God Who Camps With Us

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 8, 2003

Sermon focuses on John 1:14, using the translations the word became flesh and "tabernacled" or "set up camp" with us. (Good for use in a camping setting or a location where many hearers are familiar with camping.)

Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. How many of you would call yourselves “campers”? Yes, several of our members disappear for varied weekends throughout the summer to spend time at a campsite. But let me get more specific here. How many ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14, John 1:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

When God Hates Our Worship

Contributed by John Kapteyn on Oct 18, 2000

Our worship of God can be rejected. Today we examine ourselves to see if God accepts our worship.

Introductory Considerations 1. "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps." Your pianos and ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:1

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What To Do With Your Words Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Oct 19, 2011

This message examines the power that our words can have

INTRODUCTION * Over 600,000 words in the English language: average person uses 20,000 * The power of words... - “A word from the mouth is like a stone from a sling.” (African proverb) - “A word once uttered can never be recalled.” (Horace, Italian poet) - “Colors fade, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When The Waters Stir Series

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on Sep 1, 2009

(PowerPoint slides are freely available by emailing emile@wolfaardt.com) Looking to Jesus for the miracle you need.

Journeying with John - It’s a Blast (Jwj-19) When the Waters Stir John 5:1-9 This morning’s passage touches a need or a challenge or a dream we all have - it is the dream to be free of the things that hold us back in our walk with God, our pursuit of God, our faithfulness to God and our ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9

Denomination: *other

Escape From The Pit

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Jul 16, 2007

Principles and actions to take when discouraged

I. Enemies In the Pit --------------------- - Horrible pit - Ps 40:2 - DOUBT Christopher Hitchens’ book God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Sam Harris was a little-known graduate student until he wrote the phenomenally successful “The End of Faith” and its follow-up, “Letter to a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Need For Spiritual Change

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 28, 2013

When we listen to and obey our Lord Jesus we are received into a new spiritual family.

THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL CHANGE. Matthew 12:22-50. The spiritual blindness of the people opposed to Jesus is demonstrated in their reaction to His good works. Their refusal to hear His message is echoed in their speaking out against Him. A demon-possessed man, who was physically both blind and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:22-50

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Radical Hospitality

Contributed by Mari Larson on Feb 19, 2017

Launching from Jesus' call to love our enemies and be perfect, this sermon speaks of love and welcoming.

In 1979, Tim Hansel published a book entitled "When I Relax I feel Guilty". Included in the book is this raw and provocative tidbit. "I would like to buy three dollars’ worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Lutheran

Faith To See The Unseen Architect Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 25, 2025

This sermon explains that faith is the lens through which we understand creation, recognizing that the visible universe was intentionally designed and spoken into existence out of nothing by the invisible power of God's word.

Introduction: The Search for a First Cause Have you ever stood outside on a clear night, far from the city lights, and looked up into the sky? As you gaze into that endless, star-dusted darkness, what happens inside of you? The sheer vastness of it all has a way of making us feel small, and it ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:3

Denomination: Baptist

Go! And Live The Kingdom Way Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Feb 7, 2025

Explore how we can go and live the Kingdom way by embracing justice, living with an eternal perspective, serving others selflessly, and praying with purpose.

Go! And Live the Kingdom Way Introduction Church, today we stand before the living Word of God, ready to be challenged and transformed. The command to "Go!" is not just a call to action; it is an invitation to live out the very essence of God’s Kingdom here on earth. In Isaiah 1:17, we ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:17, Revelation 21:4, Mark 10:43-44, Matthew 6:7, Micah 6:8, James 1:27, Matthew 20:28, Philippians 2:5-7, Luke 18:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Haunted Houses

Contributed by Monte Brown on Oct 25, 2009

We live in an age, where a lot of Christians do not really believe in the activities of the spiritual world. Demonic possession is a Hollywood thing only seen on the big screen.

Prelude After reading Matthew 12:43-45 it come to me that the church in general does not believe in the spiritual warfare in the sense of a ragging battle that is going on around them. Even though the Bible continually warns us of the devices of Satan and the power that his army of demons have, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:43-45

Denomination: Baptist

"He Came…to Destroy The Works Of The Devil”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Jan 29, 2025

Jesus empowers us to stop the works of the devil. 1) temptation rejected by quoting scripture 2) Jesus is our "Advocate" as He sits at the Father's right hand to intercede 3) He has defeated Satan's grip of the fear of death by His resurrection

In Jesus Holy Name February 9, 2025 Luke 4:33-34 “He Came…To Destroy the Works of the Devil” The title of our sermon begs for a question: What are the “works of the devil” that Jesus came to destroy? We know that Satan brings into our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:33-44, Luke 4:41

Denomination: Lutheran

Christmas Presence

Contributed by Stephen Colaw on Dec 23, 2005

The presents we ofter to Christ fall short of what he wants, our presence. This sermon addresses his desire for our hearts versus our meager attempts to please him.

Scripture: Matthew 1:23 & Various Other Texts Theme: More than duty or sacrifice or religion, more than the things we can do for God, he wants our presence, a relationship with us. celebrate the birth of Christ we must let our hearts be changed by Him. Seed: Personal Study Purpose: To invite ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23

Denomination: Wesleyan